Alum visit recalls North Central history

[caption id="attachment_1230" align="alignright" width="210" caption="Bill Wolf '56, left, tours Fine Arts Center with Brian Lynch, fine arts director"][/caption]
A North Central alumnus with strong family ties to a local Methodist church returned to campus from out of state for a visit on Dec. 30.
The Rev. Wilmert (Bill) Wolf Jr., a 1956 graduate of North Central, was particularly interested in seeing Meiley-Swallow Hall—the former Grace Evangelical United Brethren Church at 31 S. Ellsworth St. Bill’s father, the Rev. Wilmert Wolf, was pastor of the congregation.
The elder Bill Wolf graduated from North Central in 1926 and returned to teach political science and history here. He later served as president of the College’s Board of Trustees and helped plan the libraries for the college and Evangelical Theological Seminary that was then part of the College.
The younger Bill Wolf, visiting from Pennsylvania with his wife Marianne and daughter Karin Wolf Snodgrass, hadn’t seen Meiley-Swallow Hall since its renovation was completed in 2007.
“For eight years I was custodian of this building,” Wolf said. “I blew out the boiler.” Wolf has fond memories of his years at North Central, and remembers attending an early-morning Shakespeare class taught by the late Dick Eastman.
“Liberal arts colleges like North Central brought culture and education to the masses in the Midwest,” he said.
Wolf and his family also toured the Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center. Associate Professor of English Judith Brodhead, archivist Kim Butler and Fine Arts Director Brian Lynch accompanied the Wolfs on their tour.